By Michael Swanger michael@dmcityview.com

Indulge your guilty pleasures, nostalgic curiosities

The pungent odor of animal urine and fried food wafts through the humid summer air as the neon glow of the Midway reflects in the sunburned backfat of the girl in front of you donning a two-sizes-too-small spaghetti-strap Kenny Chesney shirt. Moments later, the shirtless biker sitting next to you who wreaks of PBR, cigarettes and motorcycle exhaust, reaches into his filthy jeans that reveal the top of his ass crack to pull out a lighter and shout “Freebird” for the fourth time in 12 minutes.

Welcome concertgoers to the “Sounds Like Fun” 2007 Iowa State Fair — where such distractions might be a blessing given the onslaught of aging rockers, teen idols and mainstream country music acts found at the Grandstand and free stages.

This year’s lineup once again reminds us that people watching is the top attraction at the fairgrounds. But between bouts of indigestion, intoxication and heat exhaustion, a few musical acts might pique your curiosity — if not your inner geek.

Fair officials say they have spent more than $400,000 on acts at the free stages this year. The Del McCoury Band [Friday, 8 p.m.], arguably the most talented bluegrass band in the land, and “American Pie” singer Don McLean [Aug. 19, 7 p.m.], whose finger picking style has been praised by Eric Clapton — stand out among this year’s free offerings. But don’t be surprised if large crowds indulge their guilty pleasures and nostalgic curiosities to see The BoDeans, Survivor and dare I say it, Loverboy.

Speaking of guilty pleasures, if the free shows don’t trip your trigger, for less than $30 you can see Alice Cooper, Joe Walsh, Gary Allan, Switchfoot and the Rock ‘N’ Roll Reunion featuring Little Anthony and the Imperials and Ben E. King. The American Idols Live! show fetches the top-dollar ticket this year at $42.

The following is the lineup to this year’s fair. Enjoy the sights, sounds and smells. For more information, call (800) 545-FAIR or visit www.iowastatefair.org. Tickets to the Grandstand shows are available through Ticketmaster. Call 243-1888 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Anderson Erickson Dairy Stage
Aug. 9-11: The Nadas (7, 9 p.m.)
Aug. 12: Survivor (8 p.m.)
Aug. 13-14: GB Leighton (7, 9 p.m.)
Aug. 15-16: Hairball: A spoof on the 80s presented by LAZER 103.3 (7, 9 p.m.)
Aug. 17-18: Vocal Trash (1, 3:30 p.m.)
Aug. 17-18: The Blue Band (7, 9 p.m.)
Aug. 19: Vocal Trash (5:30, 7:30 p.m.)

Riley Stage
Aug. 9-11: Vocal Trash (7, 9 p.m.)
Aug. 12: Fiesta Latina featuring Grupo Fuego (7, 9 p.m.)
Aug. 13-14: Justin Roberts (4 and 6 p.m.)
Aug. 13-14: Ron Diamond (8 p.m.)
Aug. 15-16: Vocal Trash (7, 9 p.m.)
Aug. 17: The BoDeans (8 p.m.)
Aug. 18: Loverboy (8 p.m.)
Aug. 19: Don McLean (7 p.m.)

Susan Knapp Amphitheater
Aug. 9: Jason Brown (7:30, 9:30 p.m.)
Aug. 10: Del McCoury Band (8 p.m.)
Aug. 11: Steve Holy (8 p.m.)
Aug. 12-14: Vocal Trash (7:30, 9:30 p.m.)
Aug. 15: Bellamy Brothers (7:30, 9:30 p.m.)
Aug. 16: Country Gold: Leroy VanDyke, Bobby Bare, Charlie Rich Jr. and Connie Smith (6, 8:30 p.m.)
Aug. 17: Josh Gracin (8 p.m.)
Aug. 18: Chris Young (7:30, 9:30 p.m.)
Aug. 19: Celebration Iowa (4, 6 p.m.)

Terrible’s Lakeside Casino Stage
Aug. 9-11: ABBAMANIA: The Magic and Music of ABBA (7:30, 9:30 p.m.)
Aug. 12-14: Stayin’ Alive: A Night of the Bee Gees (7:30, 9:30 p.m.)
Aug. 15-16: Travis LeDoyt: Elvis Impersonator (7:30, 9:30 p.m.)
Aug. 17-19: Simply the Best: Tribute to Legendary Motown Divas (7:30, 9:30 p.m.)

Grandstand Stage
Aug. 9: Gary Allan, Eric Church (8 p.m., $28)
Aug. 10: Alice Cooper, Blue Oyster Cult (8 p.m., $28)
Aug. 11: Rock ‘N’ Roll Reunion XXVIII (7:30 p.m., $28)
Aug. 12: Corbin Bleu, Drake Bell, Jordan Pruitt (8 p.m., $25)
Aug. 14: Dierks Bentley, Chris Cagle (8 p.m., $28)
Aug. 16: Casting Crowns, Tree63 (8 p.m., $25)
Aug. 17: Joe Walsh (8 p.m., $28)
Aug. 18: Switchfoot (8 p.m., $28)
Aug. 19: American Idols Live! (8 p.m., $42)

Scene notes

The Adel Sweet Corn Festival returns to downtown Adel on Saturday. The free day-long community celebration also includes live music from 11 a.m. to midnight on the corner of 10th and Main streets by Fat Tuesday & the Greasefire Horns, Iowa Scottish Pipes and Drums, Ortonville Circus, Spam and Flipside. … Mighty Lester, an eight-piece, horn-driven, jump-blues and classic R&B band that hails from North Carolina makes its Blues on Grand debut on Wednesday for an early show at 8 p.m. The group placed third at the 2007 International Blues Challenge Band competition in Memphis last February and its independent CD, “We Are Mighty Lester,” won the Best Self-Produced CD competition at the IBC’s, edging out nearly 50 entries. The album includes eight airtight originals and covers of Ray Charles’ “Greenbacks” and the 1956 Billy Gayles/Ike Turner hit, “Let’s Call It A Day.” Bring your dancing shoes. … Speaking of blues, the Rollin’ On the River festival in Keokuk will be held Aug. 17-18, at Victory Park on the banks of the Mississippi River. The Aug. 17 “Women of the Blues” lineup includes Hot Tamale & the Red Hots, Sally Weisenburg & the Famous Sidemen and Joanna Connor. On Aug. 18, it’s the boys’ turn with Homemade Jamz Blues Band, Willie Houston & the Blues Prowlers, Scotty & the Soultones and Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials. Workshops and a jam
session will be held on Saturday. Visit rollinontheriver.tripod.com/Homex.html.… Auditions for the 2007-2008 season of the Ames Children’s Choirs will be held Aug. 18 through Sept. 15. The program includes three choirs for boys and girls ages 8-16. Children who want to audition need no previous experience or vocal training, but must be prepared to sing a folk or patriotic song. Call Shon Stephenson at (515) 290-1422 for more information. … Widespread Panic plays Stephens Auditorium in Ames on Oct. 17. Tickets, $32, go on sale Aug. 24 through Ticketmaster. CV

Comment on this story | Return to top